Health services

Our pharmacy provides you and other Veterans with convenient, efficient service to make it easy to get your medications and medical supplies. You can:

• Pick up new prescriptions in person
• Refill prescriptions online and by phone or mail
• Safely dispose of medicines

Learn more about our pharmacy

Your VA primary care provider will work closely with you to plan for all the care you need to stay healthy and well throughout your life, including immunizations and vaccinations. They will also work with family members or caregivers who support you.

A strong network of Family and Internal Medicine specialists and services can offer you the best possible care. Internal medicine doctors (internists) prevent, diagnose, and treat adult diseases. Providers who specialize in Family Medicine provide primary health care to the entire family. Your primary care team can coordinate the many services you receive such as:

• Labs and blood work
• Mental health care
• Women's health care
• Radiology
• Social services
• Telehealth

We provide immediate, walk-in care for minor injuries and non-emergency illnesses that are not life-threatening but need early attention.

Our urgent care clinic offers walk-in health care when you need help right away, but don’t have an emergency. Urgent care doesn’t replace your primary care doctor, but it can help when your doctor’s office is closed and you need to see a health care professional immediately. We treat minor medical conditions like:

• Upper respiratory symptoms (sore throats, earaches, cold, cough)
• Respiratory issues:  cough, shortness of breath, asthma exacerbations, COPD exacerbation
• Sinus, ear, and eye infections
• Minor injuries and minor illnesses
• Dermatologic issues: rash, insect bites, minor wounds
• Simple lacerations, fractures, sprains, strains

We offer women’s health services to meet your specific needs such as disease screenings, mental health treatment, recovery from military sexual trauma, maternity care and female-specific medical equipment.

Our women's health program offers complete health care for women Veterans of all ages. Our primary care providers specialize in women’s health. They work closely with specialists in gynecology, obstetrics, female urology, oncology, medicine, radiology, surgery, and breast illness. Our services for women Veterans include:

• Ultrasounds, mammograms, Pap and HPV tests
• Mental health care and counseling
• Lifestyle wellness services
• Menopause treatment, including hormonal therapy
• Family planning, contraceptive care, and infertility evaluation

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

We help Veterans on their recovery journey through outpatient and inpatient services. Our residential facility helps Veterans deal with substance abuse, homelessness, mental health, and unemployment through its 24-hour therapeutic and educational programs like:

• Rehabilitation
• Health maintenance
• Community support

Our medical center and clinics provide consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being. Our confidential outpatient services include individual and group therapy for:

• Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression
• Marriage and relationship problems
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety, addictive behaviors, and personality disorders
• Aggressive or self-harming behaviors

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

All treatment for physical and mental health conditions related to experiences of MST is provided free of charge.

To receive free treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to MST, Veterans do not need to be service connected (or have a VA disability rating). Veterans may be able to receive this care even if they are not eligible for other VA care. They do not need to have reported the incident(s) when they happened or have other documentation that they occurred.

MST-related services are available at every Tomah VA outpatient clinic and MST-related counseling is also available through community-based Vet Centers. Services are designed to meet Veterans where they are at in their recovery, whether that is focusing on strategies for coping with challenging emotions and memories or, for Veterans who are ready, actually talking about their MST experiences in depth.

For more information, Veterans can speak with their existing Tomah VA health care provider, contact the MST Coordinator at the Tomah VA, or contact their local Vet Center.

Learn more about military sexual trauma

If you have symptoms of PTSD after a traumatic event, we can help. We offer assessment and treatment support such as private counseling, group therapy and medication. It’s never too late to get help.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is something that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping directly after this type of event. If symptoms last more than a few months, however, it may be PTSD. We can help you with effective treatments and support services, like:

• Therapy including evidence based treatments for PTSD
• Mental Health Medication management

PTSD can also present alongside other psychosocial stressors and symptoms for which we also offer services.

• Treatment for insomnia and nightmares
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Anxiety and depression treatment
• Providers who are trained and experienced in working with Veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST)
• Moral Injury group facilitated by Chaplain and Mental health providers
• Services for Veterans who are homeless

Learn more about PTSD

We work with behavioral health providers and community organizations to help you and your family during times of crisis. We offer:

• Suicide prevention care coordinators
• Suicide prevention case managers
• Gun safety locks

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

Our Audiology clinic provides diagnostic and rehabilitative services, VA compensation and pension examinations, and screening for employee hearing conservation. We offer a full range of audiology services like:

• Hearing and balance evaluations
• Selection, management, and repair of hearing aids and assistive listening device assessments
• Evaluation and treatment for auditory processing disorder

Learn more about VA hearing aids

If you’re eligible for VA dental care, we offer a full range of quality dental services like:

• Routine exams, x-rays and cleanings
• Restorative procedures, including fillings and crowns
• Comprehensive surgical care, including extractions (pulling teeth) and oral cancer screening
• Routine and advanced prosthodontic care, including bridges, and dentures
• Routine and advanced endodontic/periodontal, including root canals, gum treatments, and supporting bone care

We provide care for many medical and surgical skin conditions. Our dermatology services include:

• Medically necessary treatments for skin conditions like skin cancer and rashes
• Specialized treatments for acute (short-term) and chronic (long-lasting) skin conditions, like psoriasis, eczema, warts, and fungal illnesses
• Evaluation, biopsy, and treatment of cancerous or pre-cancerous skin conditions, like abnormal moles and lesions.
• Referrals for complex conditions
• Tele-dermatology (a telehealth resource), which gives patients quick access to expert opinions

We offer many medical and support services to help you manage your diabetes, like:

• Self-management, education, and support classes
• Insulin therapy and blood-glucose meter training
• Nutrition and lifestyle education and interventions and diabetes survival skills that include sick-day management

Our Endocrine Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner offers advanced treatment and care for conditions affecting your endocrine system, including diabetes, osteoporosis, thyroid disorders, and hormonal imbalances as well as weight management.

We perform tests to check and monitor your health. We’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan and treat you with the most effective medications. Our services include: Comprehensive medication management with Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners.

Here at Tomah VA We offer inpatient and outpatient blood collections as well as processing and testing of other bodily fluids to assist providers in the care and for diagnostic purposes.  All Tomah associated VA labs are Joint Commission and CLIA accredited.

Care we provide at VA Tomah health care

• Inpatient and outpatient blood collections
• Diagnostic testing of all bodily fluids
• Specialty testing, such as Toxic Embedded Fragments and Depleted Uranium

Our registered dietitians can help you maintain or improve your health with good nutrition tailored to your needs. Through group, individual, and telehealth sessions, we provide nutrition education and counseling in areas such as:

• Cardiovascular and heart health
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes (including gestational diabetes)
• Eating disorders and digestive health
• Pregnancy and postpartum nutrition
• Weight management

Our optometrists can offer you such things as routine eye exams, preventative vision testing, treatment for eye diseases such as glaucoma, treatment of urgent eye injuries and more. We also provide prescriptions for eyeglasses and other assistive devices.  

• Vision services and eye exams
• Treatment for diseases and injuries of the retina, cornea, and other parts of your eye
• Low-vision services for conditions like macular degeneration that can’t be corrected by glasses, surgery, or medication
• Special eye exams for diabetic patients

Our palliative and hospice care services support you and your family as you cope with a life-threatening or terminal illness. Palliative care works to provide comfort, reduce suffering, and improve the quality of life for patients being treated for serious illnesses. Hospice care focuses on helping patients with terminal illnesses to manage the final stages of their lives. Our palliative and hospice care services include:

• Pain and symptom management
• Emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial support for you and your family
• Help with practical issues that include an advance directive (living will), health care power of attorney, funeral arrangements, and applying for VA death and burial benefits
• Education to help you and your family make informed health care decisions and know what to expect as your health declines
• Bereavement care to help surviving family members during the grieving process

Physical therapy, occupational therapy and kinesiotherapy can help restore movement and function if you have been disabled by injury or disease.

If you’re living with or recovering from an injury, illness, or chronic condition that creates pain or  limits your mobility and independence, we can help. Our Physical, Occupational, and Speech Language Pathologists combine therapeutic exercise, counseling, education, and training to help you improve your health and quality of life. Our services include:

• Pain relief and modalities to assist with this
• Movement and exercise therapies to improve your strength, endurance, balance, and coordination
• Mobility assessment and training with wheelchairs, scooters, and walking devices as needed
• Life skills training and activities to help you maintain the highest level of independence and functionality
  • Transfers
  • Swallowing
  • Speech
  • Adaptive equipment for activities of daily living
  • Gait
  • Reduction of pain
• Evaluation and treatment for a wide range of medical, orthopedic, psychosocial, and neurological conditions
• Some example of specialty services include, but are not limited to
  • Vestibular
  • Pain University
  • Collaboration with music for individuals with neurological conditions to include Parkinson’s
  • LSVT program
  • Wound care
  • Aquatics
  • Collaborates with recreation therapy regarding adaptive sports
  • Pelvic health
  • Involvement in women’s health clinic

Our podiatry specialists evaluate and treat a wide range of injuries, diseases and disorders that affect your feet and ankles—from ingrown toenails to inflammation to diabetic foot ulcers.

After years of walking, running, marching, jumping, rappelling, and parachuting, many Veterans develop foot and ankle issues. Our team provides comprehensive care to help you stay active and maintaining your daily living activities. Our podiatry services include:
•    Arthritis management for inflamed, swollen, or damaged joints
•    Therapeutic injections to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
•    Minimally invasive surgical procedures and coordinated post-operative rehabilitation
•    Foot health maintenance procedures (palliative maintenance)

Our pulmonary medicine team treats diseases and conditions that affect the lungs and breathing, including asthma, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome and sleep apnea.

If you find it difficult to breathe our pulmonary (lung) specialist can help. We offer education, exercises, and treatments like:

• Oxygen therapy to help you stay active and breathe better
• Healthy diets to help you manage your weight and improve energy
• Strategies to help you increase your feelings of control, optimism, and self-esteem
• Tests to measure your lung function, lung volume, and blood gas
• In person or virtual visits with a specialist with a referral from your provider
• Medication management  

We provide long-term care to help you and your family when you’re dealing with a disability, chronic (long-lasting) illness, terminal illness, or serious health issues related to aging. Our long-term health care services include:

• 24/7 nursing and medical care
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation services
• Help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, making meals, and taking medicine
• Pain management and palliative care to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for people with serious illnesses
• Hospice care to provide comfort and compassionate care for people in the last phases of an incurable illness
• To learn more about the different types of extended care that VA provides, see our guide to long-term services and support.

Learn more about VA long-term care

The sleep medicine service diagnoses and treats your sleep problems, including trouble sleeping, breathing difficulties while sleeping, snoring, teeth grinding and jaw clenching.

At various points in our lives, all of us suffer from a lack of sleep. But, if you are spending enough time in bed and still wake up tired or feel very sleepy during the day, you may have a sleep disorder. We can help. Our sleep specialists can:

• Diagnose and treat sleep apnea and other sleep disorders
• Monitor your blood oxygen levels and heart rate
• Study your brain waves during sleep
• Evaluate possible causes for your excessive sleepiness
• Conduct sleep tests performed at home or in the lab
• Work with your doctors if you need surgery or dental appliances to help you get a good night’s sleep
• Weekend and after hour on call coverage

If you are trying to quit smoking or want to stop using tobacco, we can help you with support, resources and programs.

You can quit smoking or chewing tobacco. Tobacco cessation services are available at the Tomah VA Medical Center main campus and all outpatient clinics.  Our Tobacco Use Treatment Lead Clinician is Amanda Roberge, MSW, LCSW. Counseling is available by phone or VA Video-Connect with VA Video-Connect. Our goal is to provide evidence-based support to help you be successful. These supports can include:

• FDA-approved medications to manage nicotine withdrawal and the urge to smoke
• Individual counseling by phone, VA Video-Connect or in-person
• QuitVET electronic referrals for telephone counseling in English or Spanish
• SmokefreeVET text message program for daily advice and interactive support

• Stay Quit Coach mobile app to help you quit smoking and stay smoke-free

  See online resources here: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/quit-tobacco/index.asp 

• My Tobacco Cessation Workbook
• Smoke Free Veterans

Care We Provide at VA Tomah Health Care:

If you are a caregiver for a Veteran, you can get support by contacting the VA Tomah Caregiver Support Team who can assist with:

• Educating about the Caregiver Support Program services and program eligibility
• Navigating barriers to accessing care
• Provide information on referrals to local services and enrollment in CSP
• Provide supportive counseling

Learn more and connect with a support coordinator

The Caregiver Support Line is available if you need support outside of the Tomah region. If you have questions about caregiver support service nationwide.

We help Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to financial hardship, unemployment, addiction, mental health symptoms, or transition from jail. Contact a VA Tomah Healthcare for Homeless Veteran services staff member to get help with transitional or permanent housing resources and connecting Veterans to additional community resources. Other services offered:

• Job training, life skills development, and education
• Justice system navigation and community reentry from jail
• Financial support to prevent homelessness
• Addiction and depression treatment
• Health and dental care referrals
• Veterans Justice Programs identify justice-involved Veterans and contact them through outreach, in order to facilitate access to VA services at the earliest possible point. Veterans Justice Programs accomplish this by building and maintaining partnerships between VA and key elements of the criminal justice system.

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

To help build relationship health & safety the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) offers:

-Assessment & consultation with routine screening, safety planning, training to VA staff, and consultation for providers. 

-Education of the risks and impact on physical and mental health, awareness, and prevention resources. Intervention with case management, individual and group treatment, and/ or couples counseling.

-Care coordination through referrals for VA services, and/ or community resources. 

-Strength at Home (SAH) is a trauma informed and evidence based group program for people who struggle with conflict in relationships. 

           -12 or 26 week program for Veterans

           - 8 week program for couples

Recovering from IPV through Strengths and Empowerment (RISE): An evidence-based trauma informed therapy program for VA patients who have experienced IPV.

           - 8 sessions Veteran led in collaboration with the provider

. Contact us for help with:

• emotional, physical or sexual violence, stalking, psychological aggression(including coercive acts) and threats of violence.  
  To learn more about Intimate partner violence support at Tomah VA Medical Center click here.

If you’re a minority Veteran, we can help you get the services and benefits you need. Our Minority Veterans Program serves all Veterans who are Black American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Island Americans). We work to:

• Help the medical center address minority Veterans’ needs
• Meet minority Veterans’ needs in the local community
• Identify barriers and create a more accessible environment for minority Veterans
• Inform minority Veterans of VA benefits, services, and programs

Learn more and connect with a care coordinator

Our patient advocates work hard to make sure you receive the best possible care at our health care facilities. They can:

• Help you get answers or address concerns with your care team
• Advocate for patient and family rights
• Serve as advocates for minority Veterans, women Veterans, and Veterans with disabilities
• Offer specialized help to former prisoners of war and Veterans transitioning from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND)

Learn more and connect with a patient advocate

We offer a wide range of activities (arts and crafts, games, sports, exercise) that we can adapt to your needs.

Our therapies promote your independence and enhance your health and well-being if you’re a Veteran with an injury, chronic (long-lasting) illness, or disabling condition. Please have your health care provider complete a consult to Recreation Therapy, Music Therapy or Adaptive Sports/National Events.  A therapist will contact you and assist you with a program to help you achieve your goals.

Services include:

• Recreation Therapy
• Leisure Education
• Adaptive Sports
• National Events
• Sports and exercise
• Music Therapy

If you’re returning from military service, we can help you readjust to civilian life and get started with VA health care. We can also help connect you with programs like mental health services and education and career counseling.

We can help you readjust to civilian life if you’re returning from military service, on active duty, or an activated National Guard or Reserve member. Talk to one of our post-9/11 Military2VA staff members about how to best use your health care benefits.

• Polytrauma care (if you have multiple traumatic injuries)
• Counseling and rehabilitation
• Mental and behavioral health services
• Family benefits counseling and assistance
• Referral assistance

Learn more and connect with a coordinator

Social work plays a vital role in health care. We are here to support you and your family in coping with stress related to injury or illness, and to connect you with VA and community resources to meet your needs, such as:
•    Advance Care Planning: Including Advance Directives, Power of Attorney for Healthcare, and Living Wills
•    Care Coordination
•    Caregiver Stress
•    Community Resources
•    Financial Concerns 
•    Home Care Services
•    Housing and Community Living Options
•    Information and Referrals to VA Programs and Services 
•    Long-term Care Options
•    Transportation

My HealtheVet is a web-based tool located on VA.gov that you can use to manage your care and improve your health from your computer or mobile device. You can access your personal health records and use tools to manage your care through our My HealtheVet online system. You can also use My HealtheVet to refill your prescriptions, track appointments, and read informative health articles. If you need help using My HealtheVet, , you can contact the National My HealtheVet Help Desk at M-F, 7am-7pm CST.  With My HealtheVet, you can:

• Ask questions and exchange secure online messages with your VA health care team
• Check your lab and test results
• Refill your prescriptions, track delivery, and view a list of your medications
• Keep track of your VA medical appointments and get email reminders
• View, download, or print a copy of your VA medical records

Learn more and register for My HealtheVet

Whole health care is a personalized approach to care that changes the conversation from, “What’s the matter?”  to, “What matters to you?” It starts by putting you – and not an illness – at the center of care.

What matters most to you in your life? When you think about these important things, ask yourself if you are doing everything you can to reach your goals. Instead of focusing on the tough parts of life, think about what helps you push through those challenges. For example, what motivates you to stick with an exercise plan, eat healthy, or ask for help when needed? Imagine yourself at your healthiest. What do you see? Whole Health care starts with these questions.